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Campus programs focuses on mental health

For Immediate Release: Oct. 1, 2015

BLOOMSBURG — A series of mental health awareness events will take place outside of the Kehr Union and Warren Student Services Center on the Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania campus on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 8 and 9, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The main event, a panel presentation featuring two speakers from Minding Your Mind, Jaclyn Ricciardi and Kristin Nordeman, will be held Friday, Oct. 9, at 2 p.m. in Kehr Union, multipurpose rooms A and B.

Ricciardi has been an active mental health and anti-bullying advocate since her early teenage years. She will share her own story of personal struggles with depression, anxiety and chronic self-injury. Her journey to healing began when she decided to attend St. Joe’s University on an academic scholarship. Through her recovery, she became a speaker for Minding Your Mind, which has given her the opportunity to share her story with people who may be suffering with their own problems and advise them on how to receive proper treatment.

Nordeman has worked as a youth support partner sharing her story to help youth with mental health disorders find their voice and overcome their struggles. While in high school, Nordeman developed panic disorder, due to bullying. She tried to hide her issues, but began to self-harm to cope, which lead to thoughts of suicide. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder in college, she refused to accept the diagnosis because of the stigma with mental illness. She manages the disorder with positive coping and medication.

Ricciardi and Nordeman’s presentation is designed for students enrolled in teacher preparatory programs within the College of Education, and is open to the public free of charge.

The mental health awareness events are co-sponsored by the McDowell Institute for Teacher Excellence in Positive Behavior Support, the College of Education Living Learning Community and the student organization, To Write Love on Her Arms.

Bloomsburg University is one of 14 universities in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. The university serves approximately 10,000 students, offering comprehensive programs of study in the colleges of Education, Business, Liberal Arts and Science and Technology.